Blumentals Software Community

I don't believe that this new topic is off-topic as it does relates to web development.

Perhaps not directly related to WB but WB can or may be used in its creation (i think).

I am going into virgin waters here and I am sure that there are those of you that have far more experience in setting up a blog than I.

1. is a blog needed or necessary for a web site?
2. I am at 50% in going for/not in having a blog but selected a fitting theme for a blog in case I do for it. a word press theme I cam across
anyone with experience in setting up a blog, I would appreciate your help
3. there is the question of a forum such as this one but then isn't a forum similar in nature to that of a blog but far more specific and detailed?
4. is there something that is the best of both worlds namely the blog and a forum?
5. is by doing so opening Pandora's box?

mapleleaf

http://www.mirana.net

Hi,

I've not had any experience of using blogs on my sites, but I can tell you a blog is not needed or necessary for a website, depending on your skills it could be the way forward tho.

In the past I've tended to use a combination of static and database driven pages, but at the moment am considering using a blog for one of my sites, if I get time.

Mikey

The main difference between blog and forum is that in case of blog a single poster posts and community comments, and in case of forum everyone is equal and everyone can post and comment. Also blogs are time-aligned (posts are ordered by age) but forums are activity-aligned (recently active topics are displayed on top).

Which one you use depends on your intended purpose. If you want to deliver company news, reviews, opinions etc, basically, journalism - use blogs. If you want to develop active community (game discussions, development, local city events etc, basically, a place where everyone chats), then use forums.

@MickeyB

Neither have I and that is why I had made the post here and as I said for me it is "virgin territory" or "Pandora's Box".

@Aivars

Thanks for mentioning the differences between them(very useful). The jury is still out on which to use or making a hybrid - this is going to take a bit of time planning etc.

Nice explanation of the differences Aivars, I couldn't think of a way to put it, but I think you've summed it up good.

Well I've taken the plunge, and have redone one of my websites using Wordpress, was previously using a mixture of static HTML pages, perl & MySQL, all coded by myself and was a lot of bits & pieces.

I installed Wordpress myself on my web hosting, and it was easy to install and setup, what took the longest was finding a theme I wanted, and found one at the last minute.

My hosting does have an automatic install of Wordpress (and lots more) using Fantastico, but I read about it makes updates dificult if you have plugins etc.

Wordpress is easy to use, and has lots of options & plugins if you need.

Anyway, here it is http://www.totalhumour.com

Congrats, Mike

I love the theme.

Is it possible to submit jokes?


mapleleaf

ps. I've started on my blog. pm me if you're interested in seeing what I've done so far

mapleleaf wrote:Congrats, Mike

I love the theme.

Thanks, I think it was worth changing it to Wordpress, it's so much quicker & easier for me to update.
It also tweets new posts automatically, and changes the theme for mobile devices using plugins.

mapleleaf wrote:Is it possible to submit jokes?

Funny you ask that as it is the next thing I'm going to add in.

mapleleaf wrote:mapleleaf

ps. I've started on my blog. pm me if you're interested in seeing what I've done so far

Yeah I'd like to see it, PM sent